Why Don’t Surfers Like Bodyboarding?

Surfing and bodyboarding have a well-documented rivalry that’s spanned too long even to remember how it started. Though it’s not as fierce as it used to be, there’s still some animosity occasionally, and nobody can ever say precisely why they feel the way they do. So, why don’t surfers like bodyboarding? Is there even an answer?

Some surfers look down on bodyboarding because they see the sport as a less skilled version of surfing. Bodyboarders also add competition in the water since more people are now competing for the perfect waves. Unfortunately, the origins of the rivalry are unclear, so nobody knows how it began.

Bodyboarders and surfers want the same thing: the thrill of riding the perfect wave. This makes it strange that surfers often don’t like bodyboarders, but it is an unfortunate fact. Let’s look at the phenomenon more closely to try and find the reasons why.

 

What Is Bodyboarding?

Bodyboarding became a commercial sport in 1971, but it was an ancient form of riding waves that, according to most sources, originated with the Polynesian people. It involves riding waves in a prone position on your belly. We know that it dates at least as far back as the 1700s when Captain Cook saw natives of Hawaii riding the waves this way.

Today, bodyboarding is an accepted sport that requires a unique board that doesn’t have a ventral fin, so it’s considerably different from a regular surfboard.

By all indications, it’s highly possible that bodyboarding (or “Alaia,” as the Polynesian natives called it) predates surfing as we know it today.

 

Why Do Some Surfers Look Down On Bodyboarding?

Though nobody can tell for sure, there are two reasons that surfers often quote when asked why they don’t like bodyboarders.

The first is a matter of skill. Surfers tend to look at bodyboarding as a low-skill sport compared to surfing. Since bodyboarders don’t stand upright, they don’t have to learn to maintain balance and stand up on a moving board, which makes it seem like an inferior sport.

Their second point is that bodyboarders make it more difficult for surfers to ride the perfect wave, and they make the sea more crowded and add competition for the waves.

Waves are not like skateboarding tubes – they come and go. Some are great, and others are complete duds. When the beach is crowded with people looking to ride the waves, the perfect ones are harder to find and get to on time.

When we consider the perception that surfers see bodyboarding as inferior, it makes sense that they will see the competition as unfair and feel that bodyboarders are “taking up space.”

How Are Surfing And Bodyboarding Different?

The main difference between surfing and bodyboarding is the position. Surfing requires standing while riding the waves, while bodyboarding is done in a prone position. But this simple difference makes a big difference.

First of all, bodyboarding is far more accessible than surfing. While there are children that surf, they are few and tend to be closer to their teenage years. Bodyboarding is accessible to anyone, including very young children.

It also means that bodyboards require far less maintenance and attention than surfboards – you don’t have to polish them, for example. They are also much smaller and easier to transport.

Becoming a bodyboarder is much easier than a surfer since standing up on a surfboard requires considerable skill.

On the other hand, surfing gives you access to much larger waves than bodyboarding, making many consider surfing more fun.

 

Can Bodyboarding Be A Good Way To Learn How To Surf?

Depending on your skill level, age, size, and balance, bodyboarding can be the ideal way to progress to surfing. Many surfing schools start newbies off on a bodyboard instead of a surfboard, especially young children. This helps newcomers to learn the basics of riding waves and become familiar with the ocean and the types of waves.

Some people find it easiest to just skip straight to surfing, so it will vary from person to person, but bodyboarding is generally considered an excellent starting point.

 

The History Of The Surfing Vs. Bodyboarding Rivalry

It’s unclear exactly how the rivalry began, but looking at history (and understanding human nature), we can make some educated guesses.

We know that bodyboarding originated before surfing, but when surfing started among the Polynesian people, it was the royalty who would stand upright on their boards. This led to modern surfers referring to surfing as the “sport of kings,” It remained that way for many years because of the amount of skill required to surf, and it was an elite sport that only a select few could do.

Then, in the 1970s, a massive influx of people braved the waves on their smaller bodyboards that required less skill. Suddenly, the surfers found their “kingdom” challenged by a commercial hit – bodyboarding. Anyone could do it, and everyone did, which made surfing “cheap” in some people’s eyes.

Tom Morey, the man who commercialized bodyboarding, was a surfer himself, but he wanted to bring a type of surfing to the people who couldn’t surf. It’s a noble goal, and it was massively successful, but the “elite” members of the surfing community did not take kindly to this.

The good news is that the rivalry is less pronounced than it used to be, and more and more surfers are starting to support bodyboarding and living in peace with bodyboarders, even if they will never touch a bodyboard.

 

Tips For Bodyboarders Who Want To Surf

Bodyboarding helps to prepare you for surfing since you learn to read waves and understand the water. However, surfing requires many additional skills that bodyboarding won’t teach you. So, if you’re planning to switch to surfing, here are some tips that can help you do that:

1. It’s all about progression. You might be able to get on a surfboard and find your feet pretty quickly, but that’s not how it usually goes. Hone your skills bit by bit.
2. Get a surfboard that’s recommended for beginners. You may not feel like a beginner because you’re a bodyboarder, but when it comes to surfing, you are a slightly polished newbie, so don’t get an expensive professional surfboard right from the start.
3. Focus on your swimming stroke while bodyboarding, especially using your legs.
4. Practice your balance in the water when you’re prone or sitting on the bodyboard. This will help you more than you think.
5. Try to stand on one knee on your bodyboard and practice this often. Switch knees and get comfortable standing on each.
6. Invest in one or two surfing lessons. A professional will help you transition much faster, so it’s worth the cost!

 

Conclusion

Surfing and bodyboarding share similar origins, but surfing has been in the mainstream for far longer. It makes sense, then, that surfers can sometimes look down on bodyboarding as an inferior sport. But, in the end, surfers and bodyboarders have the same goal: enjoying the waves. Besides, bodyboarding can be an excellent entry point for people who want to take up the sport of surfing!